Environment

Governor Kate Brown established the Cleaner Air Oregon regulatory examination and overhaul after air quality monitoring research done by the US Forest Service in the Portland area showed dangerous levels of air pollutants.

The public is invited to review a new habitat management plan for Lane County’s most popular Park on Thursday. KLCC’s Rachael McDonald joined Lane County’s Natural Areas Coordinator Ed Alverson at Buford Park to find out more.

Refuse plastic straws. Drink from reusable water bottles. Use bamboo utensils instead of plastic ones. These are tips from Lane County to reduce your waste. KLCC’s Deonna Anderson reports.

Lane County is encouraging residents to take a pledge to stop using disposables. Public Information Officer Devon Ashbridge says they’re always looking for ways to encourage people to reduce, reuse and recycle. Now, the county is challenging residents to take their waste-reduction habits even further.

A major piece of legislation championed by Congressman Peter DeFazio has cleared both houses of Congress, that – if enacted - will benefit three Native American tribes in Oregon. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.

A new venture in Corvallis hopes to keep leftovers from landfills. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, the “Food Too Good To Waste” campaign just scored a $45,000 dollar grant from the state Department of Environmental Quality to that effect.

More trouble for the Canadian company that let 160,000 of its Atlantic salmon escape into Puget Sound this summer: Washington state officials announced Sunday that they had terminated Cooke Aquaculture's lease for its fish farm in Port Angeles after finding “serious safety problems” there.

Agencies working to clean up the site of a semi-tanker crash that spilled gasoline into the North Santiam River focused their efforts Sunday on removing contaminated soil along the riverbanks, sampling water intakes downstream, and monitoring air quality.

Attempts in recent years to open nickel mines near the headwaters of pristine creeks and rivers in southwest Oregon have faced solid opposition. In response, the Obama Administration last January withdrew 100,000 acres of federal land in the area from consideration for mining for at least 20 years.

A Republican congressman from Utah says that was illegal. He’s asked the Trump Administration to review that and all other Obama mineral withdrawals. And the foreign-owned mining company that most stands to gain is weighing in, as well.

A sea turtle -named “Turkey” - is making waves this holiday season by being the first turtle to be treated in Oregon Coast Aquarium’s renovated sea turtle holding area in Newport. The aquarium just rescued a second turtle that is yet to be named.

December’s first weekend will see mostly cold, soggy weather across the Pacific Northwest, with snow in the higher elevations. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, winter recreationists should enjoy the next few days.

What happens at Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) affects all residents of Eugene and customers living up the McKenzie River, and EWEB has a new strategic plan. What changes are in store for your supply of electricity and water? More importantly, what changes are in store for your monthly bills? Is Eugene assured of a steady supply of clean, affordable power? Can we have a power supply that simultaneously makes both economic and environmental sense? Can carbon pricing really work for EWEB?

The Chetco Bar fire, near Brookings on Oregon’s south coast, simmered for weeks in the scars of previous fires in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness before breaking out in mid-August. As the fire raced across the landscape, driven by high winds, the firefighting effort came under growing criticism.

The coolest part of Eugene is in the south hills. We’re talking temperature here. A researcher collected data on urban heat islands and shares strategies for ways to help cool our cities and adapt to climate change.

Opponents of aerial herbicide spraying in Lane County have submitted stacks of petitions they say have more than 15,000 signatures. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, the proposed ballot measure would put a ban on the practice.